Do free downloads make it harder for musicians to make a living?

you know those people who still say “well, even with free downloads & everything, i don’t care, I’m sure those artists/musicians can find another way to make a living”
and some even said that musicians/artists nowadays can and ONLY can, and should make a living not from CD-album sales (which generally has decreased significantly, with free downloads everywhere!), but from live gigs, merchandise, etc.
but IMO there can’t be no denying that nowadays, the biggest source of income for artists/musicians (which is from CD sales), especially for NEW artists/musicians, are getting ‘stolen’ , and almost gone, because of free downloads everywhere, regardless of whether they make money/income from live gigs, concerts, etc, right?

so my question then becomes this:
is it generally now much ‘harder’ for musicians to be able to make a living, and i mean, as a FULL-time (not part-time) serious, professional musician?

there’re even other comments such as: “well, music is supposed to be FREE! so those musicians/artists?? well, of course they NEED to find other works too, even if it’s 9-to-5 jobs!”
the ‘problem’ i see with this is, of how it seems the profession/career of Musician is getting somewhat ‘downgraded’ , or less respected these days??
because it seems like these people, in a way, saying “musician is, and CAN only be a PART-time ‘non-serious’ job. so they all need to find other more ‘serious’ job!” ,.as if being musician, ie: thinking, composing, writing songs, lyrics arranging, practicing session, recording, mixing & mastering & promo is all still NOT a “hard-serious” works?

what do you guys think regarding this issue?
would love to know your opinions!